Latch



Feb. 1, 1938. L. F. WEDDLE 2,107,066

. -ILATCH Filed Dec. 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 in van to! L, 7', Waddle m ju 19%;. k

A iiqrneys 1933- L. F. WEDDLE 2,107,066.

LATCH v Filed Dec. 11,. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I pu al-l r-pwlrllunv Invehior 7 f Waddle A ttorngys Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in latches particularly for cabinet doors, gates, etc., and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which, while positively securing a door, gate or the like in closed position, is adapted to be released with a minimum of effort. I v

Other objects of the invention are to provide a latch of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a latch constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing same installed in a cabinet.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan thereof.

Figure 3 is a view principally in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of the casing.

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of the pivotally mounted ring yoke.

Figure 6 is a detail view in perspective of the stop.

Figure '7 is a detail view in perspective of the member which connects the ring yoke to the operating rod.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a casing which is designated generally by the referenoe numeral I, said casing being substantially rectangular in plan and including an integral plate 2 having apertures 3 in its upper and lower end portions which accommodate securing elements for mounting the casing in position on a cabinet door 4. The casing I may be of any suitable metal and, as shown to advantage in Fig. 3 of the drawings, said casing is mounted on the door 4 at a point above and adjacent one of the shelves 5 of the cabinet 6. The casing I, it will be noted, is open at its top and bottom and. the plate 2 extends above and below said casing. The upper portion of the plate 2 has formed therein an opening 1 the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

Extending between the side walls 8 of the casing I, adjacent the plate 2, is a pin 9 on which a yoke I0 is journaled for swinging movement in a vertical plane. Projecting longitudinally from the upper portions of the ends of the yoke Ill are lugs II which are adapted to rest on the end wall I2 of the casing I. Mounted transversely in the lower portion of the yoke I0 is a pin I3 on which a gravity actuated ring I4 in the form of a metallic tube is loosely mounted. The ring I4 is engageable behind a stop I5 which is adjustably secured on the shelf 5.

Mounted transversely in an upper portion of the yoke I0 is a pin I6 on which an upstanding plate I! is journaled. The plate Il has fonned in its upper portion a threaded opening I8 (see Fig. 7) The door 4 has formed therein an opening I9 which is aligned with the opening I in the plate 2. The openings I and I9 accommodate a slidable rod 20 having a threaded inner end portion extending through the opening I8 of the plate M. It will thus be seen that the rod 20 is threadedly connected for adjustment to the plate ll. A look nut 2| is provided for securing the rod 20 in adjusted position. The rod 20 is slidably mounted in a face plate 22 on the outer side of the cabinet door 4. Fixed on the outer end of the rod 20 is an operating knob 23. A coil spring 24 encircles the rod 20 and has one end engaged with the face plate 22 and its other end engaged with the connecting plate I! for yieldingly resisting outward sliding movement of said rod. It will be observed that the openings 1 and I9 are of sufficient diameter to accommodate the coil spring 24.

It is thought that the operation of the latch will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. To release the door 4, it is only necessary to exert sufficient outward pull on the rod 20 to compress the coil spring 24, thus swinging the yoke I0 upwardly in the casing I until the ring I4 will clear the stop I5 for permitting said door to be swung open. When the outward pull on the rod 20 is released said rod is returned to its former position by the coil spring 24 and the yoke I0 returns to its lower position with the lugs II resting on the end wall I2 of the casing I. When the door 4 is closed the loosely mounted ring I4 engages and rides over the stop I5 and drops by gravity to locking position therebehind, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. When in this position the ring I4 wedges between the stop I5 and the end wall I! of the casing l thereby positively securingthe door 4 in closed position. When riding over the stop I5 as the door is closed, the ring l4 swings upwardly on the pin l3 into the yoke It). It will thus be seen that little or no effort will be required to close and latch the door while sufiicient effort to overcome the tension of the spring 24 is all that is necessary to release said door.

It is believed that the many advantages of a latch constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. A latch adapted to cooperate with a stop comprising a casing open at its top and bottom, said casing including a yoke mounted for vertical swinging movement in said casing, a pin mounted transversely in said yoke, a gravity actuated ring loosely mounted on the pin and engageable between the stop and the casing for securing the closure in closed position, and means for actuating the yoke for lifting the ring out of engagement with'the stop, said means including anupstanding plate journaledon the yoke; a manually operablerod extending slidably through the closure and connected to said plate, and a coil spring encircling said rod and engaged with the plate and urging said rod, yoke and plate toward normal position. a

2. A latch adapted to cooperate with astop, comprising a casing open at its topand bottom, said casing including a plate at one end for attachment to a closure, a yoke journaled for vertical swinging movement in the casing, lugs on the yoke at the open end thereof adapted to rest on the other end of the casing, a pin mounted transversely in the yoke adjacent the open end thereof, a gravity actuated ring loosely mounted on the pin and engageable between the stop and said other end of the casing for securing the closure in closed position, and means for actuating the yoke for lifting the ring out of engagement with the stop, said means including an upstanding plate journaled in the yoke, a horizontal rod extending slidably through the closure and the first named plate, said rod being threadedly connected to the second named plate, an

operating knob on the outer end of the rod, and

a coil spring encircling the rod and engaged -with the second named plate for yieldingly resisting outward sliding movement of said rod.

3. A latch for securing a door to a closet shelf, or thelike, and adapted for cooperation with an upstanding stop on the shelf, said latch comprising a casing adapted for attachment to the inner face of the doorto extend inwardly thereof 7 over the stop and having an open top and bottom, a yoke pivotally mounted in said casing for vertical movement into locking and unlocking positions, respectively, a ring loosely suspended from said yoke to ride over and drop behind the stop, in the locking position of the yoke and upon closing of said door to thereby block opening movement of the door, said ring being adapted for, elevation ,to ineffective position in the urn locking position of the yoke, means for moving said yoke to unlocking position comprising a rod adapted tobe mounted in said door for horizon tal movement inwardly and outwardly thereof and tensioned against outward movement, and an operating connection between said rod and yoke comprising a plate secured to said rod and pivotally connected to the .yoke for outward movement with said rod.

LOREN FLOYD WEDDLE. 

